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Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

April 28, 2025

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4.91 from 51 votes

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This ham glaze recipe is simply the best! Made with brown sugar, mustard, pineapple, and honey. This easy recipe makes an addictive and moist ham every time. It will be the star of your holiday dinner! 

Glazed ham in roasting dish garnished with orange slices, served with mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and rolls.

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In my opinion, glazed ham is good enough to serve all year long, but it’s especially perfect for Christmas dinner or Easter. Serve it with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Cheddar Spoonbread or these Best Glazed Carrots.

And the best part is, if you have leftovers, you can whip up these Ham and Cheese Pinwheels with Everything Bagel Seasoning for a special treat. Be sure to save that ham bone too, to make this Ham & Bean Soup. 

This brown sugar mustard glazed ham is a crowd-pleaser around the holidays and it’s SO easy! In fact, it’s almost completely hands-free: Just make the glaze and baste the ham throughout the baking time. No extra steps, minimal mess, and stellar results. 

 It will be the star of your holiday table.

Too often people spend long hours in the kitchen only to end up with a bland, dry ham. Not so with this recipe! This ham roast turns out super moist and full of flavor thanks to the glaze. The sweet pineapple, honey, and brown sugar meld into the perfect sticky glaze, while the mustard balances the sweetness. 

The glaze makes this holiday ham the star of the show.

Table of Contents

  • Brown sugar mustard glaze for ham
  • How to make it
  • What kind of ham to buy?
  • How long should you cook a fully cooked ham?
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Storage + freezing
  • What to serve with it
  • Wine pairings
  • Full Recipe

Brown sugar mustard glaze for ham

  • I make this glaze with pineapple, honey, brown sugar, and mustard for the ultimate flavor – it’s the best! The most important tip is to not overcook the glaze on the stove. Bring it to a gentle simmer and only cook it until the sugar is dissolved. If you cook it too long, you’ll end up with a thick caramel-like mixture that isn’t easy to spread on the ham. 

Glaze variations

Try these other ham glaze recipes:

  • Orange Glaze: Swap the pineapple juice for orange juice.
  • Maple Glaze: Swap the honey for maple syrup.
  • Apricot Glaze: Swap the honey for apricot preserves.

How to make it

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Place ham, cut side down, in a large roasting pan. Cover tightly with foil to retain moisture. 
  3. Bake, until the center registers 100-110 degrees, (approx. 10-14 minutes per pound). 
  4. Whisk together glaze ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring often, until brown sugar dissolves, about 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
  5. Remove ham from oven and increase oven temperature to 400 degrees. 
  6. Brush with brown sugar ham glaze.
  7. Bake, uncovered, until the ham reaches an internal temperature of around 140 degrees, approximately 20-30 minutes, brushing with additional glaze every 10 minutes.
  8. Remove ham from oven and brush again with glaze. Loosely cover with aluminum foil and let rest for 15 minutes, then brush once more with any remaining glaze and serve.
Ham in roasting pan before going into oven.
Glazed ham covered with tin foil.
Glazed ham in roasting pan out of oven.

What kind of ham to buy?

  • I prefer to buy a fully cooked, bone-in, spiral cut ham. Bone-in hams tend to be the most flavorful, and spiral hams have the added benefit of being easier to cut. I also think more of the brown sugar mustard glaze seeps into the ham this way. But you can also use boneless ham for this recipe, or, a non-spiral cut whole ham.

How long should you cook a fully cooked ham?

  • Since the ham is already fully cooked, the most important thing is just to get it warm again. To be warmed all the way through, cook your spiral ham until an instant-read thermometer reads 140°F when inserted in the thickest part of the ham. For a 5-7 pound ham, this takes about 2 ½ hours. 
  • Don’t have a thermometer? This is my favorite meat thermometer!
Extreme close up of glaze on ham.

Recipe FAQs

How do you keep glazed ham moist?

My first big tip is to cook the ham with the cut side down to seal the moisture into the ham. Then make sure to add glaze about every 30 minutes to keep adding and sealing in moisture. Last, be careful not to overbake the ham. It is already cooked, so it only needs to be warmed through. 

Can you glaze a ham the night before?

It’s best to glaze this ham while it is cooking, so I prefer to do it the day-of. The glaze adds moisture to the ham and creates a super delicious caramelized crust on the top that is best when served fresh. 

Storage + freezing

You’ll likely have plenty of leftovers. Store those in an airtight container (these are my favorite!) in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can also freeze the leftovers for up to three months.

I always look forward to a ham sandwich the next day with a little dijon mustard! It would also be great with this Honey Mustard Sauce. Or, make this easy Leftover Ham Casserole.

Glazed ham in roasting dish garnished with oranges, cranberries and herbs.

What to serve with it

  • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
  • Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • Cheddar Spoon Bread 
  • Glazed Carrots
  • MORE —> 55+ easy sides for ham

Wine pairings

  • A Chardonnay or Riesling would compliment the sweet and salty flavors of this ham.
  • For red wine, a Zinfandel or Pinot Noir would make great pairings for this recipe.
  • MORE –> the 10 BEST wine pairings for ham.

More holiday recipes

  • Rack of Lamb with Herb Crust
  • Sous Vide Prime Rib Roast with Garlic Herb Butter
  • Sous Vide Ribeye Steak with Compound Butter
  • Easy Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream
  • Ham and Cheese Pinwheels with Everything Bagel Seasoning
  • Instant Pot Deviled Eggs

Did you try this ham glaze recipe?

If you loved this glazed ham recipe, I would appreciate it so much if you would leave a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on  Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

PS – Be sure to save that leftover ham hock to make this Ham & Bean Soup!

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Glazed ham in roasting dish garnished with orange slices, served with mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and rolls.

Full Recipe

Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Ham

This ham glaze recipe is simply the best! Made with brown sugar, mustard, pineapple juice, and honey. This easy recipe makes an addictive and moist ham every time. It will be the star of your Christmas or Easter dinner!
4.91 from 51 votes
Print Pin
Serves 8 people
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 2 hours hrs 40 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups dark brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup pineapple juice
  • ⅓ cup honey
  • 1 Tablespoon orange zest
  • 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 5-7 pound spiral-cut ham (bone in and fully cooked )

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  • Place ham cut side down in a shallow roasting pan. Cover tightly with foil to retain moisture.
  • Bake ham at 325 degrees until the center registers 100-110 degrees, (approx. 10-14 minutes per pound).
  • Meanwhile, whisk together all of the Brown Sugar Glaze ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring often, until brown sugar dissolves, about 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
  • Remove ham from oven and increase oven temperature to 400 degrees.
  • Carefully remove foil and brush ham all over with 1/3 glaze.
  • Bake, uncovered, until the ham reaches an internal temperature of around 140 degrees, approximately 20-30 minutes, brushing with additional glaze every 10 minutes.
  • Remove ham from oven and brush again with glaze. Loosely cover with foil and let rest for 15 minutes, then brush once more with any remaining glaze and serve.

Notes

Tips: 
  • Bake ham cut side down to make it more moist. 
  • Simmer the glaze only until sugar is melted, then remove from the heat. 
  • For a moist ham, don’t cook past 140°F. 

Nutrition

Calories: 524kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 2254mg | Potassium: 626mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 61g | Vitamin C: 47mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 2mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

This post was originally published in 2020. It was updated in 2023 to add new information. The baked ham recipe remains the same.

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4.91 from 51 votes (40 ratings without comment)

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25 responses

  1. Jennie Lamancuso
    December 24, 2021

    5 stars
    So good!!! This is the second time I have made this in just one month. Everyone is crazy about it and wants the recipe. Merry Christmas to you and Rick.

    Reply
    1. Erin
      December 24, 2021

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  2. Jacques
    December 24, 2021

    I recommend an off-dry Riesling (8-20 g/L Residual Sugar) as you’d want to pair your wine to the sweet, and salty, ham.

    Reply
  3. Mark Maciuba
    December 30, 2021

    OMG!
    Delicious!
    My brothers call me and ask for this recipe!
    ITS A KEEPER!

    Reply
    1. Erin
      January 3, 2022

      Love that – Thanks Mark!

      Reply
  4. Lisa
    April 17, 2022

    5 stars
    Oh man was this a hit! My FIL could not stop talking about it and said it was the best ham he had ever had in his life(much to my MIL’s dismay)

    Reply
    1. Erin
      April 20, 2022

      Thank you Lisa!

      Reply
  5. Lindsay Gomez
    November 7, 2022

    Hi- Quick question. I used this recipe and enjoyed this ham very much last Thanksgiving. We want to try and use a whole ham instead of spiraled as it is our neighbors pig’s whole ham that was gifted to us. Do you think it will turn out just fine? I just am looking for an opinion on this.

    Reply
    1. Erin
      November 7, 2022

      Hi Lindsay! I think the glaze will still be delicious on that whole ham.

      Reply
  6. doodle jump
    April 19, 2023

    On that entire ham, I believe the glaze will still taste fantastic.

    Reply
  7. bio
    June 15, 2023

    We want to try and use a whole ham instead of spiraled

    Reply
    1. Erin
      June 16, 2023

      You can use any type of ham for this recipe 🙂

      Reply
  8. Tiny Fishing
    December 20, 2023

    4 stars
    amazing

    Reply
  9. Run 3
    January 15, 2024

    4 stars
    AMAZING

    Reply
  10. moto x3m
    January 18, 2024

    3 stars
    amazing

    Reply
  11. Ashley
    March 31, 2024

    Can this be done in a crockpot? And if so how long would you recommend on high or low?

    Reply
  12. github.io games
    June 30, 2024

    I tried to make it, and its very tasty

    Reply
  13. 2048 cupcakes
    August 3, 2024

    5 stars
    The combination of brown sugar, mustard, pineapple, and honey seems like it would create a wonderfully balanced glaze—sweet with a touch of tanginess. I love how the recipe highlights that it’s both easy and rewarding, with minimal mess and maximal flavor. Plus, the tips on avoiding dryness and overcooking are really practical. It’s great to see options for different glazes and ideas for leftovers, making this a versatile choice for any holiday feast or special occasion.

    Reply
  14. cookie clicker
    August 6, 2024

    4 stars
    I highly recommend this article.

    Reply
  15. nyt strands
    September 1, 2024

    The recipe to make this dish is quite simple but to make it successfully is another matter, hopefully I will complete this dish.

    Reply
  16. Nairobiraha
    September 20, 2024

    5 stars
    Brown sugar and mustard glaze is a perfect blend of sweet and tangy, making it a classic choice for ham. The sugar caramelizes beautifully, giving the ham a golden, sticky finish.

    Reply
  17. Oli
    October 15, 2024

    5 stars
    Made with brown sugar, mustard, pineapple, and honey, this glaze makes an addictive and moist ham every time.

    Reply
  18. URL
    November 4, 2024

    Your blog is a wonderful mix of information and inspiration.

    Reply
  19. Loren Irby
    February 20, 2025

    5 stars
    The recipe which you shared are more tasty yummy and delicious so keep it up and thanks for doing this kind of work!

    Reply
  20. Aurealisa
    June 2, 2025

    5 stars
    Cheers to a flavorful and festive meal! 🍽️✨

    Reply

Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

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